Catheterization compact



' A ril 11, 1944.

E. PORTER 2,346,636

CAII-IETIEIRIZATION COMPACT Filed Dec, 10, 1942 Z5 mummsmnmmm" IM imamPatented pr. 11, 1944 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

CATHETERIZATIQN COMPACT Edna Porter, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application December 10, 19.421, Scriai No. 458,481

4 Ciaims.

This invention relates to a container for sterilizing articles and forprotecting them against desterilization.

Although the container provided by this invention may be used to protecta great many different substances and articles against contamination bygerms, it is more particularl the object of the invention to afford thisprotection to the instruments and substances used in catheterizations ofpatients.

It is usually necessary, under present conditions, for the doctorsattendant to spend about half an hour for the purpose of sterilizing andassemblying for use the various articles and instruments to be used inperforming a catheterization. This task includes using severalsterilometers in order to determine that the sponges, gloves, forceps,catheters and other accessories have been sterilized. By the use of thepresent invention these articles are all sterilized en masse, only onesterilometer being used and much time being saved and trouble avoided.

Objects of the invention in addition to those above indicated are: Toprovide guarded access to certain compartments Of a container of aplurality of sterilized articles so that other articles within thecontainer than those to which access is had will not be contaminated; toprovide improved means for admitting sterilizing steam to the interiorof the container without later impairing the sterile condition of thecontents thereof; to provide improved means for supporting within thecontainer a. sterilometer in a position for convenient inspectionwithout opening the container; and to provide for the container animproved combined lid and trapdoor structure.

Other objects, advantages and features of invention will hereinafterappear.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, which illustrates what is atpresent deemed to be a pr ferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the complete article, the lid beingpartly open to disclose interior parts. This View illustrates theinterior compartments, such compartments being empty and thesterilometer being carried interiorly by the lid. The open position ofthe trapdoor carried by the main lid is indicated by dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the device looking down upon thetrapdoor, a portion of the window being broken away in order moreclearly to disclose the sterilometer.

Figs. 3 and 4 are enlarged sectional detail views taken respectively on.lines 3-3 and 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring in detail to the drawingthe embodiment of the invention showntherein comprises an elongated box arrangement consisting of side walls3 and 4, end walls 5 and 6, a bottom wall 1 and a lid 8 secured to saidside wall 4 by a plurality of hinges 9.

Within said box arrangement is a plurality of longitudinally extendingpartitions I53, I I and i2, and a plurality of transverse partitions E3,H5, H5 and it. By these partitions there is provided a compartment I lwhich extends from end to end of that side of the structure to which thelid is hinged, said compartment being adapted to contain catheters; acompartment E8 to contain forceps; a compartment 19 to contain glOVes,towels, syringes and miscellaneousequipment; a compartment 20 to containsponges; a compartment 2| to contain waste and provided with a group ofapertures 22; and a compartment 23 to contain samples of urine, thelatter compartment having the part of its back wall which is formed bythe partition It furnished with a vertical row of graduations 23m toindicate the quantity of the sample taken. The apertures 22 are only forthe purpose of letting the steam out during sterilization. They areplaced in said compartment 22 for the reason that this compartmentalways remains empt unless it is filled with the waste matterafterperforming a catheterization.

In addition to the aforesaid compartments there are provided, in thefront part of the midlength portion of the container, two juxtaposedcompartments 24 and 25, the front compartment 24 bein utilized as astorage place for a sterile solution and the compartment 25 therebehindbeing utilized as a container for oil, these two containers being usedonly after the compact containing the equipment for performing acatheterization has been brought from the autoclave in which theassembly has been sterilized, or from other places where kept inreadiness for use, access being provided to the compartments 24 and 25without opening the main lid 8, which might contaminate the sterilizedarticles, this being avoided by opening only the trapdoor 26 in a dooropening 8m contained in thelid 8.

Describing the trapdoor 25 in, detail, said trapdoor is hinged to themain lid 8 by a hinge 23a, a rat-trap spring 2%, coiled around the hingepin 260, being utilized to maintain the trapdoor in a yieldably closedcondition. Said trapdoor is provided with Wings 21 which, in the closedcondition of the trapdoor, extend alongside the transverse walls It andM in an outside relation to the intervening compartments 24 and 25. Saidtrapdoor is desirably operated by means of a knob 28, the opening of thetrapdoor being yieldingly opposed by said spring 2612, and when saidtrapdoor is opened to an extent sufficient to provide access tocompartments 24 and 25 said wings 2'! aid in shielding the contents ofcompartments 20 and 23 against splashing when the oil and sterilesolution are added to said compartments 24 and 25 preparatory toperforming a catheterization.

The lid 8 has through it an opening 83: (see Fig. 4) wide enough toadmit the winged sides of the trapdoor, said opening extending out tothe flange 8 of the lid. In order to prevent the front edges of thetrapdoor wings 2'! from striking against the front edge of the opening80: through the lid 8, said wings are arcuately beveled at 211).

All the transverse and longitudinal partitions which have been mentionedhave their upper edges located in a slightly downwardly spaced relationto the top edges of the side and end walls 3, 4, and 6. This arrangementprovides for a circulation of the steam throughout the severalcompartments of the device and not only insures sterilizing saidcompartments but also of the equipment placed within them, when thecompact is placed in a sterilization chamber.

Owing to the downwardly spaced relation existing between the closed lid8 and the partitions within the box provision is made for preventing thetrapdoor 26 from inclining downwardly when both the lid and trapdoor arein the closed condition. For this purpose the small horizontal restplate 29 shown in Fig. 4 is attached to the upper edge of the front wall3 of the box to arrest the closing movement of the trapdoor before itmoves to an inclined position.

The contents of the compact are always wrapped in suitable gauze, paperor towels prior to being placed within the container.

Due to the fact that the trapdoor 25 provides only guarded access to thesterile solution compartments there is never any danger that access tosaid compartments contaminate the sterilized equipment in the othercompartments.

When the trapdoor 26 is opened by means of the knob 28, this trapdoor isutilized as a pull wherewith to open the main lid 8, without providingan additional handle therefor.

The elongated sterilometer 39, which may be of a conventional character,is shown supported from the underside of the lid 8 by means of a pair ofspring clips 3! each of which has one end portion secured to the lid andhas a detached end portion directed toward the free edge of said lid.Adjacent to one end portion of the mounted sterilometer the lid 8 has awindow 32 covered with a pane 33 of any suitable transparent material,and through this window the sterilometer is observable to determinewhether or not the contents of the container have been properlysterilized. If the sterilometer displays white it indicates an impropersterilization.

What is claimed is:

1. A container of the kind described comprising a lid, a box to whichsaid lid is hinged, said box having within it partitions therebydividing off a plurality of compartments underlying said lid when it isin the closed position, said compartments having open tops when said lidis in the open position, a door in said lid capable of being opened andclosed independently of the latter and when open affording access whilesaid lid is closed to certain of said compartments independently of theothers, and means carried internally by said door to guard againstdesterilization of adjacent compartments when said door is opened toafford access to others of said compartments.

2. A container of the kind described comprising a lid, a box to whichsaid lid is hinged, said box having within it partitions therebydividing off a plurality of compartments underlying said lid when it isin the closed position, said compartments having open tops when said lidis in the open position, a door in said lid capable of being opened andclosed independently of the latter and when open affording access whilesaid lid is closed to certain of said compartments in dependently of theothers, and means carried internally by said door to guard againstdesterilization of adjacent compartments when said door is opened toafford access to others of said compartments, said means to guardagainst de-stel ilization consisting of a pair of wings disposed invertical planes, one of said wings being located at each side of saiddoor. Y

3. A container of the kind described comprising a lid, a box to whichsaid lid is hinged, said box having within it partitions therebydividing ofi a plurality of compartments underlying said lid when it isin the closed position, said compartments having open tops when said lidis in the open position, a door in said lidv capable of being opened andclosed independently of the latter and when open afiording access whilesaid lid is closed to certain of said compartments in.- dependently ofthe others, and means carried internally by said door to guard againstde-sterilization of adjacent compartments when said door is opened toafford access to others of said compartments, said means to guardagainst desterilization being a pair of wings having end edges which aredirected toward the free'edge of said lid and which approximately abutagainst the front wall of the box when said lid and door are closed,said edges being beveled so as to clear the front side of the box duringthe operation of said lid and door.

4. In a device of the kind described, a box having a plurality ofcompartments therein, a lid hinged to the top of said box, said lid whenclosed forming a cover for certain of said compartments, there beingthrough said lid an opening which extends over other of said compartments when said lid is closed, the latter compartments havingside wallsdownwardly spaced from said lid when closed, and a door carried by saidlid and swingably attached thereto to open and close said opening, saiddoor carrying wings to close the spaces between said side walls and theinner side of said lid When said door and lid are both in their closedpositions.

' EDNA PORTER.

